That black box called Regrets

Regrets are a feeling that happens in real time and that is based on elements we know. Yet, no situation can ever be the same, especially if circumstances happen to be different. In fact, regret is this powerful negative emotion that makes us believe if we changed our past actions or behaviors, we would have achieved a better outcome. 

Occasionally I question myself and so does my wife about the wisdom about having moved to the United States 46 years ago. I’ve always been a bit split and unclear on that issue. Yet, choosing to stay in France or immigrating to America came with its own set of environmental conditions and interaction, meaning issues like employment, lifestyle, family life, children, interaction with each culture and other people plus a host of unknowns involving, as always, a significant share of good fortune and bad luck. 

What would those elements have been, had we not move to the USA? Very, very hard to say or predict based all the fluctuating conditions I just listed. In fact, such a parallel projection is impossible to make accurately. Our lives could have been much worse, much better or about the same and we might be already gone and unable to tell about it…

All this to say that a choice can’t be regretted because none of the multiple elements surrounding it are constant or can be counted on. Further, regrets are not just useless, they’re also potentially totally meaningless, which behooves us to be constructive in fixing whatever we don’t like about them. 

So next time a choice between two paths anguishes you, take the one that is most pleasant or best fit your fancy and just seize it without ever turning back!